title: Diagnosis and successful treatment of a lung abscess associated with Brucella species infection in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).
abstract: This brief communication describes the clinical presentation, antemortem diagnosis, and successful treatment of a pulmonary abscess associated with a Brucella sp. in a 27-yr-old female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Ultrasound revealed a 3-cm diameter hypoechoic mass deep to the pleural lining in the left lung field. Multiple ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirates were performed and tested for bacterial and fungal etiology. All cultures were negative, but the infectious agent was identified by MicroSEQ analysis in two samples and confirmed with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using known Brucella sp. primers. Amikacin was infused into the abscess and was followed by an oral doxycycline and rifampin protocol. Follow-up diagnostic imaging, including radiographs and computed tomography, revealed a resolved lesion with minimal mineralization within the affected lung fields. Brucellosis should be considered for pulmonary disease in dolphins, and personnel who interact with marine animals should use caution to prevent zoonotic brucellosis.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Aquatic Animal Health Program, P.O. Box 100136, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA. scassle@ufl.edu
authors.forename: Stephen E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Cassle
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Cynthia R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Meegan
authors.forename: Shawn P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Betsy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lutmerding
authors.forename: Sam H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ridgway
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Francis-Floyd
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D050681:Bottle-Nosed Dolphin; D002002:Brucella / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents